Review: Mophie's Powerstation USB-C 3XL is the perfect companion for the latest Apple gear...
Mophie's latest battery pack is the Powerstation USB-C 3XL which has timed its release perfectly with that of the latest MacBook Air and iPad Pro. With a massive capacity and versatile outputs, this battery can easily power all your gear.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL
When battery packs are made of aluminum, they have a higher chance of being dinged and damaged themselves, as well a harming your other gear. Slide a giant metal weight in a bag with a Mac and an iPad could result in a cracked screen or scratched finish.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL
Mophie has once more employed a similar design here, akin to similar batteries in their lineup. Three ports line up along one end, with a slightly angled side home to a quartet of status LEDs and a status button.
Speaking of, this battery pack seems tailor-made for Apple's latest wares. That 45W of USB-C power is easily enough to charge your new MacBook Air or iPad Pro.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL ports
The rub comes with the second output port, USB-A. USB-A makes sense if you are using a USB-A to Lightning cable to power up your iPhone while using USB-C for your Mac or iPad. If you want to charge your phone with Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable, then you're in a tough spot. Mophie could have included two USB-C outputs to fix this, but as Apple is the only one who sells USB-C Lightning cables, the amount of us using them is relatively small.
We've seen batteries above 26,000mAh before, but rarely. This makes it the largest battery in Mophie's lineup.
For those wondering, that equates to roughly a 96Wh battery, which is near the 100Wh maximum put forth by the FAA. In other words: yes, you can take this on a plane with no issues.
Mophie Powerstation AC (bottom), Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL (center), and Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL
There is the Powerstation USB-C XXL and the Powerstation AC that sport the same physical shape (though different sizes) and fabric exterior.
Depending which model suits you, there are trade-offs. Be it output speed, input speed, capacity, or ports.
The most cost-effective model is the Powestion USB-C XXL which rocks a 19,500mAh battery with a dual-use 30W USB-C input/output and a USB-A port. Because of the single USB-C port, you can either charge two devices at once, or charge one device (over USB-A) and charge the battery pack at the same time.
Splitting the top tier -- also running $199 -- is the Powerstation AC. It's got a 22,000mAh capacity, a dual-use 30W USB-C input/output, a USB-A port, and a 100W AC outlet.
If you are looking for the highest capacity, go for the 3XL model. Want to plug in your MacBook Pro and charge it as fast as possible? Then the Powerstation AC may be a good fit. Want USB-C in the smallest package? That's the XXL.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL
Stylish design
On the outside the Powerstation 3XL is a soft fabric finish, which we first saw and immediately fell in love with on the Powerstation USB-C XXL. It feels durable, soft and grip-able to the touch, and better than the metal exteriors employed by other batteries.
When battery packs are made of aluminum, they have a higher chance of being dinged and damaged themselves, as well a harming your other gear. Slide a giant metal weight in a bag with a Mac and an iPad could result in a cracked screen or scratched finish.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL
Mophie has once more employed a similar design here, akin to similar batteries in their lineup. Three ports line up along one end, with a slightly angled side home to a quartet of status LEDs and a status button.
Ports and power
Unlike the smaller-capacity USB-C batteries, Mophie has included a dedicated USB-C port as well as a dedicated USB-C output. Each USB-C port can handle 45W of power, which means not only does the battery refill quickly, it can charge your gear hastily.Speaking of, this battery pack seems tailor-made for Apple's latest wares. That 45W of USB-C power is easily enough to charge your new MacBook Air or iPad Pro.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL ports
The rub comes with the second output port, USB-A. USB-A makes sense if you are using a USB-A to Lightning cable to power up your iPhone while using USB-C for your Mac or iPad. If you want to charge your phone with Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable, then you're in a tough spot. Mophie could have included two USB-C outputs to fix this, but as Apple is the only one who sells USB-C Lightning cables, the amount of us using them is relatively small.
We've seen batteries above 26,000mAh before, but rarely. This makes it the largest battery in Mophie's lineup.
For those wondering, that equates to roughly a 96Wh battery, which is near the 100Wh maximum put forth by the FAA. In other words: yes, you can take this on a plane with no issues.
Pose for the lineup
Mophie has a wide variety of battery packs -- that is their bread and butter after all -- but the Powerstation USB-C 3XL falls in line with two other similar models.Mophie Powerstation AC (bottom), Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL (center), and Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL
There is the Powerstation USB-C XXL and the Powerstation AC that sport the same physical shape (though different sizes) and fabric exterior.
Depending which model suits you, there are trade-offs. Be it output speed, input speed, capacity, or ports.
The most cost-effective model is the Powestion USB-C XXL which rocks a 19,500mAh battery with a dual-use 30W USB-C input/output and a USB-A port. Because of the single USB-C port, you can either charge two devices at once, or charge one device (over USB-A) and charge the battery pack at the same time.
Splitting the top tier -- also running $199 -- is the Powerstation AC. It's got a 22,000mAh capacity, a dual-use 30W USB-C input/output, a USB-A port, and a 100W AC outlet.
If you are looking for the highest capacity, go for the 3XL model. Want to plug in your MacBook Pro and charge it as fast as possible? Then the Powerstation AC may be a good fit. Want USB-C in the smallest package? That's the XXL.
Comments
This battery comes with both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable as you can see in the video.
Do all of these make up the difference? Not necessarily. But Anker always went for great quality at affordable prices, Mophie shoots for the premium market and Apple-exclusives.
Here is what I travel with:
Matebook X Pro i7
iPad 8.7
Note 9
Bose QC II
The power bank I settled with was this one BatPower You can check it here at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076SBRJLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_3EG8BbTMHW2R2
This particular one is the 26800 which is similar to the one on the article. Also, unlike what the article says 26800 is not the max you can take on a plane, it is however they max you can take on the plane without approval which is not difficult to get of you have stuff you need it for like a laptop since that's more power hungry. I take the 50000mah one with me all the time . You have to carry on the power back though regardless, they are not allowed in checked bag at all.
Anyway, back to the Batpower bank I linked above .
This has 1 type C input and 1 type C output both of which are 60watt max. There is 4 type A USB ports one of which is quick charge. Another important distinction is that the Batpower has passthrough, for be this is very ideal while traveling as I can use my Matebook X Pro charger to charge the power bank in my hotel and then context my laptop to the type C output to charge that at the same time .I can also connect my phone, iPad, and headphones to it and they all charge while it's charging. It's $129.99.